One of the largest and best known salsa companies in the world has its roots in north Louisiana.
The progeny of Claiborne Parish stock, born and raised in Lincoln Parish, and taught to be an entrepreneur in Ouachita, David Earl Pace found success with his Pace Picante Sauce, “the original picante.”
His parents, Amos Gideon “Gid” Pace and Effie Fomby Pace were the second generation of their respective families to live near Athens in Claiborne Parish. Gid engaged in a host of endeavors, from farming and timber to land speculation.
Tragedy befell many of the Pace children. The firstborn, Selwynne, lived only 24 days. His sister Camille, died at age eight. Their brother Amos Paul Pace lies entombed within the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, a victim of the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. His widow, Connie Manning Pace, enlisted in the Navy and served as an aviation machinist’s mate.
The elder brother, James Ward Pace, died on a hunting trip in 1953. He drowned while trying to use a self-operated ferry and his jeep fell into a north Louisiana bayou.
Only David Earl (79) and Imogene (81) lived into their senior years.
Gid always seemed to look for something better for his family. After Selwynne and Camille died, the Pace family moved to Simsboro in Lincoln Parish sometime between 1910 and 1914 to try their fortunes. David, the future top dog of Pace Foods, and Amos were born there.
Sometime after 1920, the family moved on to Ouachita Parish. Gid first operated a produce and egg business in West Monroe. Gid moved into making syrup. Not just syrup but at least 13 varieties of syrup from Sunny Gold Corn & Cane Syrup that sold for 40 cents to Pace’s Grade “A,” the company’s most expensive at $1 each.
The company peddled its products across north Louisiana and delivered it to stores in Mississippi and southern Arkansas. Gid experienced a problem every entrepreneur envies—the company constantly outgrew its facilities. He moved his manufacturing plant several times to progressively larger buildings to meet demand.
David Earl learned the process of experimenting with recipes and developing new products. With the help of David and James, Gid opened his final location for the Pace Syrup Company about six miles west of West Monroe just off U.S. 80.
After working for the family syrup business, playing football at Tulane, and serving as a pilot in World War II, David settled down in San Antonio, Texas, the home of his wife Margaret. There he continued to improve an old family recipe for the perfect salsa.
Pace began his own food business of bottled syrups as well as jellies and jams. The products were made, packed, and shipped out of a small back room of a liquor store David and Margaret rented. Over time, he expanded the business to a variety of other condiments. In 1947 he decided the real “syrup of the Southwest” was a Mexican salsa or sauce.
Starting with a basic recipe, he experimented with different blends of ingredients. He tested the results on golf buddies before settling on one mix of jalapeños, onions and tomatoes. He named his creation “picante sauce,” after the Spanish for “piquant,” meaning “flavorful” or “spicy.”
It was truly the original picante sauce since no picante sauce existed before David Pace coined the term.
While continuing to sell some 58 assorted condiments, he continued modifying his picante sauce formula for the better part of a decade. As demand grew, Pace dropped the rest of the company’s lines and focused on the Picante sauce. Using a $150,000 loan from Margaret’s mother, the couple expanded and built their production facility in 1951.
Pace’s entrepreneurial spirit extended beyond salsa. He patented an executive chair in 1967 that could be opened flat for naps and created the Pace Chair Company.
A man who worked that hard needed an afternoon nap. He had come a long way since his 1914 birth in Simsboro.
Pace Foods remained a family-owned company until it was sold in 1994, a year after David’s death, to the Campbell Soup Company for $1 billion.
You read that right. One billion dollars.
Campbell changed little of the operation, retaining Pace’s 471 employees. The sauce is still made in Texas, now by 900 Campbell employees.
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David Earl PaceThe image of a jar of Pace Picante Sauce appears on David Earl Pace’s gravestone.
And yes, I believe that was the greatest decade for a teenager to grow up in (although many of my like-aged friends agree the 1950s were probably a close second from what we can gather).
Proud Ruston High graduate of 1989. So, I truly did grow up in the ’80s.
And maybe everybody believes this about their decade and their high school, but what a wonderful time it was across the board.
The past few weeks I had a couple of opportunities to catch up with some old high school classmates in Kirk Hollis and Rajiv Kandyil, both members of the Class of 1989. And I also had a chance to run by Ruston High a couple of times for business-related reasons.
I can tell you the RHS campus is in beautiful shape and the original building that houses the vast majority of the classrooms is absolutely nostalgic. In fact it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The combination of being on campus and visiting with some old friends brought back memories. And as with many things in life, the older you get, the more you appreciate those memories and the people that helped create them.
Ruston High in the 1980s was arguably the best ever when it comes to Bearcat Athletics. Three state championships in football (1982, 1986, and 1988 … with a fourth on the horizon in 1990) under the legendary Jimmy “Chick” Childress. During my four years walking the RHS campus the Bearcats lost a grand total of four football games.
I can still hear B-E-A-T N-E-V-I-L-L-E echoing through the halls of the firmly founded.
A state title in boys basketball (1988) under one of the best to ever do it in North Louisiana in Jack Thigpen. Anyone who was around the gym that year will never forget the one-two punch of Anthony “Bear” Dade and Al Thurman, who I still believe was a better player than his little brother Scotty (and all Scotty did was lead Arkansas to a national title).
And although my memory is a bit sketchy, I’m pretty sure we garnered a state title in boys golf and cross country and maybe even tennis during those four years. And had plenty of success in other sports on both the boys and girls sides.
The RHS administration, faculty and staff during the late ’80s was a Who’s Who of wonderful people. From administrators like Gerald Cobb, Dickie Hinton and Ronnie Suggs to teachers like Loyce Miller, Gary Green, Hilda Perritt, Jane Tatum, and Jackie Whitlock, to coaches like the aforementioned Chick Childress, Jack Thigpen, George Stone, Doc Belding, David Crowe, Howard Whitlock and so many more.
It was truly an all-star cast of fine folks.
Those people and their colleagues made being a Bearcat even more special (although at the time, I’m not sure I completely appreciated their impact on my life).
And then add in the movies and the music from the 1980s. I am bullish on the fact the music from the big hair bands of the 1980s was some of the greatest ever.
Bon Jovi. Def Leopard. Chicago. Journey. Madonna. Michael Jackson. Bryan Adams. Prince. U2. Bruce Springsteen. Van Halen. Cindy Lauper. Tina Turner. Billy Joel. The Police. Phil Collins. Boston. Survivor. Asia. Guns-n-Roses.
We were never at a loss for great songs that shaped our high school days. I’m still an ’80s music guy as the songs pepper my playlist and bring back so many great memories. I can still remember going to see Bryan Adams and Survivor perform at the Thomas Assembly Center in the mid-80s.
How about a good flick from the 1980s?
Breakfast Club. Rocky IV. Raiders of the Lost Ark. Die Hard. Revenge of the Nerds. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial. Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The Terminator. Dead Poet Society. Risky Business. Back to the Future. Beverly Hills Cop.
One summer during high school I am pretty sure I watched Beverly Hills Cop every single day. I could recite all the words to the movie by the time the summer was over … and still can in parts of it. Eddie Murphy is one of my all-time favorites.
Yes. The 1980s (especially the second half of the decade) was arguably one of the best times to be a teenager growing up. And all of the things above made times at Ruston High so memorable.
But the overwhelming aspect of high school that was so great were the friends I made.
I came from AE Phillips. Class of 30 people. I remember walking to RHS with my buddy Andrew Murad on the very first day of class my freshman year. At the time it was a record-sized freshman class of just over 400 wide-eyed rookies that stuffed into the auditorium.
It was a bit intimidating. But as I made more and more friends and developed a close knit group that would become my running party so-to-speak during my four years of high school that feeling of intimidation quickly turned into one of happiness and contentment.
Although I will never be 16-years-old again, I still have the ability all these decades later to go back in time (in my mind) to Ruston High in the late-80s and remember all the fun moments and the great people that made those times so special.
I was lucky to be a part of the firmly founded during those times.
(Brian Estes, center, with daughter Caroline and paramedic Adrian Brouillette)
Brian Estes has always had a heart for the Ruston Bearcats.
A lifelong Ruston resident and graduate from the class of ’88, Brian has seen many state championships for the Firmly Founded over the years, preferring to attend as many Bearcat football games as he possibly can ever since he was a child.
One state championship eluded him however: the most recent one in 2023, despite him being in the stands with 20 minutes to go before kickoff.
You see, it was that same heart for the Bearcats that would commit the act of ultimate betrayal: it would stop for 20 minutes in the Super Dome, sending his friends’ and family’s world upside-down for a terrifying four days where the outcome would be anything but certain.
A true miracle man, Brian is thankfully still with us. But the family shared the tumultuous time from the stadium, to the ambulance, to the emergency surgery, to the road to recovery.
Their terrifying weekend began on a Friday morning with Brian and two of his children, Taylor (RHS, ’13) and Caroline (RHS, ’23) heading down to New Orleans for the 2023 Non-Select, Division I state title game, where Ruston High would be making a repeat trip after falling short in 2022 on a quest to win the first title in over three decades.
Brian and daughter, Caroline, on the night before the championship gamein New Orleans
After arriving in New Orleans, the family checked themselves into the hotel at the Harrah’s Casino and did some normal exploring downtown.
“We changed clothes, went down to the French Quarter, and ate pretty good,” Brian said. “We ran into some other Bearcat fans and talked to them– we ended up doing that for a couple of hours. Nothing eventful. Then we woke up the next morning and went for beignets.”
Saturday morning, they realized they had walked a pretty good bit (and sometimes in the wrong direction). It was then Brian started feeling like something was wrong but figured he was just a little tired.
“It got to where I thought that I really needed to go back to the hotel and lay down a minute,” Brian said. “And then I started feeling better, so we decided to go to Champion’s Square where everybody was setting up.”
It was on that walk that Brian began experiencing chest pains again, sometime around 3 p.m.
“He didn’t want to use the words ‘chest tightness’ because it would scare everybody,” Taylor said. “We all kept thinking it was heartburn or indigestion.”
After they visited with others and snacked on some jambalaya, the Estes crew headed toward the Super Dome. Slowly but surely, Brian began feeling worse.
“It felt like somebody was just lightly hitting me in the chest,” Estes said, blaming a bowl of jambalaya that he had eaten earlier. “At this point, I see the front door of the Super Dome and I’m planning to go in and get a water. But after that, I started feeling a little worse and worse.”
The group was finally making their way to their seats, as the plan for Brian all along was to meet up with Shane and Callie Grubb, two close friends who had planned to watch the game next to the Estes in the ‘Dome.
Still not getting any relief, Brian and Caroline both made their way to a first aid station, hoping that an antacid would be the cure-all.
“I told her to just come with me and don’t say the words ‘chest pains,'” Brian said. “So we walked up the steps and I asked somebody where first aid was. Thankfully it was close by, so we walked in. They made me sit down immediately and ran a test.”
Brian was tested with a portable EKG, which the EMTs decided to run two times.
“The first time, the results looked funny,” Caroline said. “And the guy was a little concerned because it didn’t look like it’s normally supposed to. But most EMTs would have run with it and would have called it a day. But he had a weird feeling and called his supervisor.”
That supervisor would be Adrian Brouillette, a paramedic for Acadian Ambulance Service.
“Just upon looking at him, he didn’t seem right,” Brouillette said of Brian. “His color was off a little bit– he was clammy and sweaty. And then he told me something that really piqued my interest: we had the air conditioner on in the room and it was chilly, but he said that he was very, very hot and started fanning himself. That’s very unusual. We started digging a little deeper and we put him on a cardiac monitor.”
By this time, the tests were starting to be conclusive: Brian was in the early stages of a heart attack. Caroline herself admitted that reality of this was not setting in.
“I was just kind of having a good time,” Caroline said. “I was just sitting there, music was playing, and I was like, this is so fun, you know? Dad’s going to be fine, and then we’re coming back (to the game).”
After they talked it over with the first EMT, Brouillette then calmly told the family that they need to go to the hospital. Dumbfounded, Brian tried pleading his case to not be put on the gurney and that he would walk over to the ambulance.
“I was not going to have people seeing me on a gurney,” Estes said and followed with a laugh. “So I grabbed my wires, and Adrian walks behind me and has his hand on my back. And there was the ambulance.”
At this point, the family met emergency medical technician Justin Calderon, who admitted to being irate that a man in the early stages of a heart attack is up and walking around.
“I got pretty heated because he wasn’t on a stretcher or in some type of wheel chair,” Calderon said. “At this point, you’re exhausting the heart even further. We put him in the truck, and I hop in the back to start doing my own assessment. Maybe a minute goes by, and he starts saying that he feels really, really dizzy. And then he just passed out in front of me.”
Up in the front of the ambulance, Caroline was sitting in the passenger seat, waiting to be transported with her father to Tulane Medical, right next to the Superdome.
All of a sudden, she felt the ambulance begin to shake.
“I didn’t think anything of it, at first,” Caroline said. “But then, Adrian opens the door and puts his hand on my leg.”
Brouillette then delivered Caroline the terrifying news: Brian was in the beginning stages of a heart attack and now unresponsive. The ambulance shaking was the beginning of a 20-minute effort to revive him and get him back.
“I just looked at him blankly, and then it all finally hit me,” Caroline said. “I completely broke down.”
Brian and EMT Justin Calderon
Grubb had his suspicions a few weeks earlier that something just wasn’t quite right.
One of Brian Estes’ best friends, Grubb and Callie have made fall Fridays ritual with the Estes family to watch the Ruston High Bearcats play on the gridiron.
And it was at a pregame tailgate at West Monroe, five weeks prior to Brian’s heart attack in the Superdome, that Grubb’s curiosity piqued.
“He was complaining of heartburn that night,” Grubb said. “And now, putting it together, we know it was likely his heart (showing early signs).”
It was at the end of the first quarter in the state championship game that the Grubbs started realizing, again, something just wasn’t quite right.
After seeing Brian and his kids prior to the game, the plan was simple: Shane and Callie would go to the seats and Brian would join them soon after.
Throughout the first quarter, Brian’s seats were empty. And not one to miss a Bearcat game, especially one of this magnitude, Brian’s absence gave Grubb enough pause. Those suspicions were confirmed when Brian’s oldest son, Taylor, ran by their seats on the phone.
“He said that he’d call me in two seconds,” Grubb said. “I didn’t know what was going on at the time, so I got up and found him. He told me what was going on.”
At this point, Brian had undergone20 minutes of chest compressions and six shocks from a defibrillator in the back of the ambulance by Calderon and another EMT, Jasmine Smith.
“He was having the big one,” Calderon said later. “It’s known as the ‘Widowmaker’ — the one most people do not survive.”
Brian and his daughter Caroline were transported to Tulane Medical near the Superdome, and his son Taylor was trying to find his way out of the stadium to follow his dad and sister, after he notified Brian’s wife Jennifer and his brother Will of the situation. Taylor described feeling like a caged animal trying to break free.
“I just need someone to get me out and point me in the right direction,” Taylor said. “I take off running, trying to push everybody out of the way and run as fast as possible. And I look behind me, and Shane is with me.”
They finally got to the waiting room and met with Caroline and her boyfriend Ashton. Callie would join her husband Shane, soon after with the rest of the group.
Caroline recalled seeing Calderon for the first time in the waiting room, who came in to update the family and friends on Brian’s situation.
“Out of nowhere comes a big, huge guy with tattoos and piercings, and he just sits down in front of me,” Caroline said. “I have mascara down my face and I’m in tears, and I look up and there is this calm person who is radiating good energy. He said, ‘Your dad is one strong man.'”
Calderon proceeded to walk through everything the medical staff did to keep Brian alive and get him to Tulane Medical to begin work on an artery that had a 100 percent blockage.
Not out of the woods yet, Brian’s family and friends were in the waiting room listening to an audio stream of the Ruston High championship game. Over the loud speakers, they heard a call for a Code Blue, and Taylor and Caroline immediately and correctly sensed what it meant: Brian had coded yet again for the second time in two hours, this time from a failed stint.
“The worst part during that time was the waiting game,” Caroline said. “There was just no news and we were sitting for hours after hearing that. Finally, a nurse stopped in and let us know that (Brian) was okay.”
Around midnight, Brian was moved to the ICU and was fully sedated. The group could now go visit him in a room.
“I had a lot more peace now that I could see him,” Caroline said.
Jokingly, Taylor leaned over to Shane and asked how he thought Brian will feel in the morning knowing that they all saw him like this. Near this point, Jennifer and Will have arrived, and the family was getting ready to rest for the night.
Over the course of Sunday, Brian gradually began to wake up and regain consciousness. Too weak to fully communicate, Brian was given a pen and wrote “RHS?” on a piece of paper, wanting to know if Ruston won the state championship. Taylor responded, “Yeah, Dad. They won.”
“I gave a thumbs up,” Brian said, “and I laid back down for 20 minutes and fell asleep. And my thumb stayed up.”
Taylor gives his dad a signed football from the Ruston High Football Team
Throughout the rest of the his stay in New Orleans (he was discharged the Thursday after the game after multiple successful stint procedures), Brian would meet with two of his heroes from the episode: Calderon and Adrian Brouillette, who both worked diligently to save his life and still check on him to this day.
For Calderon’s work on Brian, he earned a meritorious service award, though what he will remember the most is the hug Brian gave him, knowing that for every story like Brian’s, there are so many more who do not survive, let alone have a full physical and mental recovery.
“I go in and see him, and he has the biggest smile on his face,” Calderon said. “It made me cry; I haven’t felt that kind of hug. Thinking of it right now gives me tears. We have so many people go into cardiac arrest; when you have to work on someone for over 15 minutes and shock them six times, they normally don’t make it.
“When I saw him, I was like you are the luckiest, unluckiest (person) I’ve ever met. You were in cardiac arrest at the right time.”
In the aftermath, and nearly 30 pounds lighter, Brian can’t help but reflect on the sequence of events that led to him to still being here today. He received the best quality care one could ask for with the type of heart attack he experienced: Tulane Medical. Had Ruston not made the championship game, he would not have been in New Orleans. Had he returned to his seat instead of seeking help, Brouillette and Calderon would likely have not had the few precious seconds they needed to bring him back. Brian admits it’s evidence from the Lord above watching over him.
“The Lord was with us all the way, from where the first aid was located in the Superdome to the time we got to the hospital,” Estes said.
Brouillette will forever remember Brian’s story, as well. In fact, he now teaches what is know as the Brian Estes Scenario for reminding first responders to not just go with the first scan if they have any hesitation. And he wants to use Brian’s example as a means of precaution for other people to not ignore potential symptoms.
“The signs to look for are any chest pain associated with nausea or vomits and a general feeling that something is not right,” Brouillette said. “Don’t just push it aside if it’s concerning enough that it makes you think about it. Get it checked out.
“I’ve been doing this for 17 years — he’s only the third person (I’ve worked on) that has had these types of results in recovery. He’s indeed a miracle.”
Sophomore Ruston High student Melissa Le brought home the crown Sunday afternoon as she was named Miss Louisiana’s Teen, winning $8,000 worth of tuition scholarships in her two years of competing.
Le, who also held the title of Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival’s Teen, will compete nationally later this year for the title of Miss America’s Teen.
She said she was in complete shock when she was named Miss Louisiana’s Teen.
“This has been my dream for the past two years, and I have worked so hard in order to achieve such an honor,” Le said. “I was so grateful to God, my family, the judges, and my friends at that moment, as well as extremely proud of the work I had put in.”
Le said she cannot wait to serve the state in this role.
“I want to utilize the platform I have been given to spread my community service initiative, STEM to Bloom: Investing in STEM Education for All and promote the Miss Louisiana Opportunity’s goals of empowering young women and providing scholarships,” she said.
Le said she has is grateful for being able to compete and work with the Miss Louisiana organization.
“(This) is an absolutely amazing experience,” she said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed growing my self-confidence, communication and leadership skills.”
She added that the friendships she has made through the Miss Louisiana organization are priceless to her.
“The girls I have had the privilege of competing alongside made this experience so sweet because we bonded and uplifted each other,” Le said. “Every single step, from competing at my local preliminary competition to appearances to competing at Miss Louisiana’s Teen has been magical.”
At school Le is a part of the swimming team, National Honors Society, Student Council, speech and debate team and FBLA. Le is also a Junior Co-Chair on the National Girls Collaborative Project’s STEM Youth Advisory Board. She is interested in increasing STEM-related extracurricular activities as part of her platform.
“With the title of Miss Louisiana’s Teen, I will have more opportunities to travel the state of Louisiana and promote my community service initiative in order to cultivate the future generation’s interest in STEM education,” she said. “I will utilize social media and appearances to maximize my outreach and influence as many people as possible.”
In addition to the crown, Le also won preliminary competitions of talent and fitness. She, along with two other Ruston residents Catherine Williams and Averie Moon, represented Lincoln Parish in the state pageant.
“I hope to make as many appearances as possible to promote my community service initiative, STEM to Bloom, and Miss Louisiana Opportunity, perform my talents and serve the state of Louisiana,” Le said. “This year is going to be an incredible journey, and I am so ecstatic to begin.”
Lane Burroughs has poked fun at himself a number of times over the past few weeks when he has gotten emotional talking about his Louisiana Tech baseball team.
He did it again Saturday during the post-game press conference after his Bulldogs saw a historic season come to a close in the Fayetteville Regional.
“You ready to see a grown man cry,” Burroughs asked the media prior to his opening statement.
He wasn’t kidding.
Burroughs has shed a tear or two-hundred the past few weeks, and each time he has mentioned his late father, Lavelle “Rube” Burroughs.
“As my dad got older, he used to always get emotional,” said Burroughs. “I used to be like, ‘You need to get a hold of yourself.’ But I know why now.”
So do we, Lane.
The tears were real. They weren’t orchestrated. They were genuine, and they showed Burroughs’ deep care and compassion for the young men he coaches on a daily basis.
“These guys mean a lot to me,” said Burroughs, choking back the tears. “I love them. They are like my own kids. I am extremely proud of them.”
In a day and age where college athletics is becoming more and more transactional and losing its interpersonal side due to things such as Name, Image, Likeness (NIL), collectives and the transfer portal, it’s this type of coach-player relationship that has allowed Louisiana Tech baseball to stiff-arm any type of major losses to the portal.
Men like Lane Burroughs and Mitch Gaspard and Cooper Fouts and Matt Miller have done such a stellar job of creating a program where guys want to stay for the entirety of their careers. Not an easy task in the current climate.
“I think culture is such a buzz word, and everybody uses it,” said Burroughs. “I am a huge team chemistry guy. I want our guys to like each other. I want them to love each other. I know a lot of coaches don’t put much stock in that.
“I always said when I am a head coach, I want our players and I want our coaches to pull up to the facility and want to go in there. I have been at programs as an assistant where you pull up and your don’t really want to go in. It’s not fun.
“Our guys are at the facility all the time. We run a player driven program. We tell every recruit that they have a voice. It’s not one of these my-way-or-the-highway type deals. Our guys have a voice. My door is open. Those guys come in there all the time. I let them have a voice.”
Some of those voices spoke about what their skipper meant to them during Saturday’s post-game.
“(Coach Burroughs) believed in me, and I can’t thank him enough for that,” said senior Adarius Myers. “I got a big place in my heart for Louisiana Tech and Coach Burroughs.”
“Coach has a special place in my heart,” said senior Ethan Bates. “He recruited me two years ago, and I am forever grateful for that. I would run through a wall for that guy right there. “
As the video of Burroughs’ emotional opening statement circulated throughout the social media world Saturday evening, even former Bulldog players talked about their feelings for LB23.
“This man and the coaches around him helped me be who I am, and I thank God for it every day,” said Cade Gibson.
“I can’t thank God enough for leading me to Louisiana Tech go give me the opportunity to play for this man right here,” said Parker Bates. “He’s a true selfless leader who cares about the well being of his players and strives to make them better men”
Even parents of current and former Bulldog players made their thoughts known.
“(Lane Burroughs) is one of the good ones,” said Lacy Knight, mother of former Bulldog Tanner Knight. “I will be forever thankful (Tanner) got the opportunity to play under him.”
“This man right here … my family and I are forever grateful for him,” said Stacy Young, mother of Taylor Young. “Taylor had the most incredible college career and it was all because of (Lane Burroughs). Baseball needs more leaders like L.B.”
“This is just a glimpse into why our boys would run through a brick wall for this man,” said Teri Netterville, mother of former Bulldog Steele and current Bulldog Slade. “He not only builds and develops them in this game that can sometimes bring you to your knees, but he builds and strengthens their character by his own example. We absolutely love and revere him.”
Strong endorsements from both the player and parent perspective.
Burroughs has now led the Bulldogs to three regional appearances in the past four years, and he has done it while graduating some of the most decorated players in program history.
He was the first to admit on Saturday that next year’s team “will have a different look” with the loss of guys like Bates, Myers, Cole McConnell, Jorge Corona, Reed Smith, Sam Brodersen and others. However, Louisiana Tech baseball has the right leader in place to groom the next crop of Bulldog greats.
“I want everyone out there to know how proud I am of this team,” said Burroughs. “And how proud I am to be the head baseball coach at Louisiana Tech. It’s one of my highest honors of my entire life.”
As a 1994 Louisiana Tech alum and a 25-year employee of the University’s athletic department, I appreciate not only the tremendous success in a challenging time, but even more so, I appreciate Lane’s genuine investment in his players and the Ruston community.
He is proud to be our coach. I, for one, am awfully proud he is. Tears and all.
Change can bring excitement or anxiety. Change can bring needed relief, new opportunities, and a renewed sense of optimism. It can also lead to uncertainty that increases stress, diminishes confidence, and elevates worry. While change is a part of life, effectively navigating through change can make a big difference in our quality of life.
After a thirty-plus year career with International Paper, I decided to make a change and do something different. Now that’s a pretty big change that I elected to pursue. I chose to leave a known salary with benefits, a manageable set of challenges, and a great group of people, to start a coaching and speaking business with no clients, no guaranteed income, and a lot of potential for failure.
The decision to make that change didn’t occur overnight and was something that I contemplated for quite a while. The key elements of that process that I went through to make that decision as well as some key observations that I have witnessed along the way might just be helpful to you.
Whether you are evaluating a potential job change, retiring from a long career, starting a business, changing schools, moving to a new community, joining an organization, getting help with a problem, or any number of other potential changes, here are a few thoughts on navigating the difficulties of change in our lives.
Don’t be a victim to predictability: Too many of us will settle for a predictable bad situation rather than risk a change to a possible better. The reason is that the change could lead to something worse. So, we settle for bad. We embrace the concept that at least we know what to expect. We live predictable, unhappy lives because we fear change.
Don’t play the long game too long: Many of us tell ourselves that if we just keep hanging on to a less than desirable situation, that it will eventually pay off, get resolved, or improve. In many cases, we just lack the courage to seek a better opportunity and hide behind false hope. Time will always be more valuable than money, recognition, or rewards.
Run to something not away from something: Be careful not to overreact to an unpleasant situation, difficult boss, or tough challenge. Those things aren’t always a bad thing and often get resolved. In the short-term, don’t run away from tough things. However, when you clearly have something to run towards, change takes on an entirely new focus. Change is a positive step when you are running towards something.
Trusted counselors are a blessing: Find people that you trust to talk things over with regarding changes you are contemplating. These people are the ones that make sound choices, ask good questions, and are willing to have hard discussions with you. Be selective and careful who you listen to for advice.
Focus on direction, not comfort: Will this change enable you to take the next step in living the life you desire? Will this change move you toward the impact you want to have? Far too many of us seek change for comfort rather than challenge. Comfort may feel good in the moment, but it may lead to regret in the longer-term.
Your present circumstances don’t determine where you will ultimately go, they merely determine where you start. What changes do you need to consider to start living, impacting, and experiencing the life you desire?
While I have appreciated the thought behind this phenomenon for some time, I have never actually singled out anyone to receive this tangible demonstration of love for one’s fellow humans.
And to my recollection, until last week, no one had singled me out for such kindness either.
But last week as I stood in the line at Walmart, everything came into place for me to enter into this realm of reciprocity.
I had amassed a small stash of items while journeying through the store, and when I approached the cashier, I nonchalantly pulled out my wallet to retrieve my credit card. But … oops … no card appeared.
I must admit: I’ve experienced this occurrence more than I would like to admit, but usually after a few moments of panic, the wayward card surfaces from beneath a stash of other cards or tattered receipts – or even from one of my pockets. Not so this time. I pawed, I rooted, I rummaged through my wallet.
The sweet young woman who was checking me out even offered tips as I fretted. “Maybe it’s somewhere else in your purse,” she offered. But again … nothing.
“I guess I’m going to have to call the credit card company,” I finally mumbled. “Is there anywhere you can keep this while I go home to get the card?”
“I can take it to the customer service desk,” she said, “and you can pick it up there.”
When this fiasco started, I had been grateful that the line was empty. But during all my frantic searching, a woman had quietly appeared in the checkout area behind me. She was minding her own business, discretely looking at the chewing gum and candy bars, but then suddenly, without my realizing it, she somehow circled behind me and appeared at the card reader with a piece of colorful plastic in her hand.
I was temporarily confused. What was she doing?
It soon became clear.
“I’ve got it,” she softly told the cashier.
Our eyes met, and I could barely get out the words. “You are so kind,” I said with as much expression as I could without crying. “Thank you SO much.”
I wanted to hug her, but I didn’t think it was appropriate. Still, I wanted to do or say something to connect us in a more meaningful way, so I blurted out, “I’m Sallie.”
“I’m Cindy,” she returned.
And that’s all I remember. I think I thanked her again, and then I took my two deodorants and my eight taper candles that I needed for an upcoming ceremony and left.
Now, as I ponder the incident, I feel the urge – the need – to pay it forward with someone else.
Not only that, but I realize that even though said I had never been the recipient of a Pay It Forward Encounter before, that is incorrect. And if you think that you have not been the recipient of such a blessing, then your thinking might need adjusting, too.
More than 2,000 years ago the most significant Pay It Forward Event of all time happened. Jesus paid it forward – and backward – so that our sins could be forgiven. Yet we can never pay it forward enough to repay what he did for us. There’s simply no way. No way to pay him and no way to pay others enough to equal that.
We simply have to accept his offer of that payment, listen to his voice through the Bible, and obey what he has asked us to do. Oh, life won’t always be easy even when we do this, but the ultimate gift in the Pay It Forward and Backward Scheme is worth it.
Instead of merely getting to say “thank you” and wanting to reach out and hug someone in Walmart, those of us who accept and act on this plan will get to spend eternity with the ultimate Pay It Forward Master.
Meanwhile, here on Earth, we, too, can make someone’s day a bit better by doing what Cindy did.
Or asking, as the saying goes, “What would Jesus do?”
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
A Ruston man was arrested last week after he was stopped by Louisiana Tech Police for driving the wrong way on a one way street and was allegedly found to be impaired.
Mose D. Russell, Jr., 49, was arrested for DWI and traffic charges after he was observed traveling the wrong way on Railroad Avenue on the Tech campus about 10:30 p.m. on December 20.
Tech officers saw a beer bottle on the front passenger floorboard of Russell’s vehicle and detected the smell of alcoholic beverages. A records check showed Russell had not been issued a driver’s license. He was wanted for failure to appear in Ruston City Court.
A Louisiana State Police trooper responded to the scene and conducted field sobriety tests. The trooper’s report noted Russell performed poorly on the sobriety tests and was arrested. A breath test showed Russell’s blood alcohol concentration to be .11g%. He was booked for first offense DWI, no driver’s license, open container, wrong way on a one way street, and the City Court warrant.
Bail was set at $3,500.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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An usher was escorting visitors to a seat in the sanctuary. As they walked down the aisle the usher inquired, “Clapping or non-clapping?” You can stir up some hot mess debates about clapping in the church, especially when the clapping follows a musical selection. Congregations have been applauding children’s programs and Choir cantatas as we roll through this season. Applause breaks out every Christmas season, even in the most staid of congregations.
I think we should add applause to our Christmas celebrations.
A brief history of applause tells us that it became a more formalized cultural convention in the early days of the theater. Roman theater audiences, for example, were told “Valete et plaudite!” “Goodbye and applause” at the end of every performance, which was the ancient equivalent of today’s “Give it up for “Your favorite home team” as they enter the arena!
Given that the theater was the only place in those days where you could gather the bulk of the people, politicians also used applause as a form of early polling data, gauging the crowd’s reaction when they entered the venue and took their seats. Once, when the Roman emperor Caligula attended a performance, a certain actor received more applause upon his arrival than had the emperor himself when he arrived at the venue. The maniacal emperor Caligula reportedly muttered (while fingering his sword, no doubt), “I wish that the Roman people had one neck.” Whether it’s in an ancient theater or in a modern arena, the strength of applause is still the thing that can make or break a performer or a politician.
The Romans, in fact, had three categories of applause that further made its connection to the sounds of the material world. “Bricks” was the flat-handed clapping of polite applause, while “roof tiles” or the clapping of cupped hands meant that the audience liked you a lot. The best type of applause, however, was the sound of “bees” — a cacophonous buzz that included not only clapping hands but shouting voices as well. Listen to a modern audience clapping and you can definitely tell the difference between the smattering of applause that sounds like raindrops and the full-throated roar that sounds like thunder. In Europe especially, synchronized applause is common.
And applause is accompanied by vocal acclamation, i.e., cheering.
One part of the Christmas story reads: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Do you suppose the angels were also cheering? The angels were sharing “good news of great joy” for all of humanity. For some reason I don’t see or hear them announcing this good news with an orotund delivery. I hear joyous applause and cheering.
It is like the joy of a child on Christmas morning.
Go ahead, “Let’s give it up for Jesus!”
Merry Christmas!
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Alivia Lee scored 11 points for the Lady Cougars. (Photo by Darrell James)
by Malcolm Butler
Cedar Creek outscored Homer in every single period as the Lady Cougars registered their 11th win of the season with a lopsided 65-24 victory over Class 2A Homer Thursday in the first day of the 2024 Doc Edwards Invitational.
Playing at Bossier High School, the Lady Cougars (11-2) jumped out to a 14-3 lead after the opening eight minutes and then pushed its advantage to 23-9 at the half against the Pelicans, who saw their three-game winning streak snapped.
Any chance of a Homer (6-6) comeback was doused in the third and fourth quarters when Cedar Creek outscored the Pelicans 42-15 over the final 16 minutes of action.
Nine different players got into the scoring column for the Lady Cougars led by sophomores Mary Grace Hawkins (13 points) and Alivia Lee (11 points).
Creek hit 27 field goals, including five three-pointers, compared to only six field goals made by Homer.
The Lady Cougars will face Class C Hornbeck today at 10:30 a.m. at Airline High School.
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Cedar Creek Scoring: FG(3)-FT=Total Points
Alivia Lee 5(1)-0=11; Mary Grace Hawkins 4(2)-3=13; Britton Bennett 2-0=4; Caroline James 2-1=5; Mallory Smith 3(1)-2=9; Taylor Martinez 3-0=6; Zoey Venters 3-0=6; Kennedy Hall 1(1)-0=3; Avery Ryan 4-0=8. Totals 27(5)-6=65
BOSSIER, La. — Ruston High (3-3) picked up its third straight victory Thursday afternoon, knocking off undefeated Minden High (9-1) in the opening round of the Doc Edwards Tournament on the campus of Airline High School by a final score of 54-36.
The Bearcats were also boosted by the return of senior guard Aidan Anding, who was cleared to play before the contest with the Tide after precautions following a football injury earlier this month. He finished with 12 points, including two three-pointers on the night.
“I told the guys before the game that Minden was undefeated for a lot of reasons: they run a really good offense and play extremely hard on defense,” Ruston High assistant coach Corey Deans said. “I knew the guys we were bringing into the game could match (Minden’s) intensity, but when Aidan showed up, it put us over the top. He bring a lot of confidence to the guys — it’s almost like watching your big brother showing up to the playground.”
Deans talked, too, about what having Anding back will do for the team longterm in the lineup.
“(Having Anding back) puts everybody back into their natural positions,” Deans said. “Aidan is now guarding the other team’s best player. And it really caused problems on the defensive end because (Minden) was unable to run their offense. He made it difficult for them to get into their sets.”
Ruston took a three-point lead after the first quarter 14-11. Both teams scored eight points in the second quarter giving Ruston a 22-19 lead at the half.
Following a 10-point performance in the third, Ruston lead 32-27 before an explosive fourth quarter of 22 points to just eight for Minden.
Ruston High sophomore Ahmad Hudson finished the night with 19 points, scoring 11 in the fourth quarter to help seal the Bearcat victory. Sophomore Keshun Malcolm added 11 overall.
The Bearcats return to action today at Benton High School for a 10:30 a.m. tip off against the Benton Tigers.
This year’s Doc Edwards tournament features 18 teams on the boys’ side. A complete bracket is included below.
Bobbie Jo Blackburn Mohn passed away on December 24, 2024 in Ruston, LA after a brief illness. She was born in Saginaw MI to the union of Douglas J and Gloria Jean Yanna Blackburn on February 16, 1976. She and her husband lived in Bernice, LA prior to moving to Ruston.
Bobbie loved dancing and listening to music. Her kids and grandkids were her life and she loved them dearly. Bobbie also loved nature and being outdoors. She would give the shirt off of her back to help anyone. She was a great woman.
Bobbie is survived by her loving husband, Alan Mohn, her two children: Alan Mohn, Jr. and Vanessa Foster and her three grandchildren: Apollo, Grayson and Annalise. She is also survived by other relatives and many friends.
The family will hold a private memorial service as Bobbie had requested. In lieu of flowers. please make donations to the funeral home.
Lillian Cottingham Thursday 07/24/1924 — Wednesday 12/18/2024 Age: 100 Visitation: Friday 12/27/2024 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Friday 12/27/2024 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Private Burial
David “West” Vaughan June 29, 1973 – December 20, 2024 Visitation: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Monroe, Sunday, December 29, 2024, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Service: Kilpatrick Funeral Homes – Monroe, Sunday, December 29, 2024, 2:00 pm
Ruby Kelly Sunday 08/07/1949 — Saturday 12/21/2024 Visitation: Friday 12/27/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 12/28/2024 11:00am, New Rocky Valley Baptist Church, 2155 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Grambling Interment: Saturday 12/28/2024 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Nathaniel Burks Sunday 06/10/1962 — Saturday 12/21/2024 Age: 62 Visitation: Friday 12/27/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Funeral Service: Saturday 12/28/2024 11:00am, Zion Traveler Baptist Church, 1201 Martin Luther King Drive, Ruston Interment: Saturday 12/28/2024 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, Highway 80 West, Grambling
Nancy Gale Monk December 30, 1944 – December 22, 2024 Funeral Service: Friday, December 27, 2024, 10:00 AM, First Baptist Church of Bernice, 502 Cherry St., Bernice Cemetery Committal: Friday, December 27, 2024, Pisgah Cemetery, Pisgah Ch. Rd., Bernice
RUSTON, La. — It’s impossible to walk in downtown Ruston and miss the Waltz Pharmacy at the intersection of North Trenton St. and West Mississippi Ave.
Nestled in the corner by the red light, the bright white sign has welcomed countless patients for nearly 53 years into Waltz’s care for needed medications, apothecaries, knick-knacks and of course, cold Coca Cola’s.
And now, Phil Waltz will finally go into retirement today after years and years of service to the city and community he loves dearly.
A 1965 graduate from Ruston High School, Waltz spent two years at Louisiana Tech and finished pharmaceutical school at Northeast Louisiana State College (now UL-Monroe) in 1970 — then had to wait until he was 21 years old to take the state board test. Waltz then served as a pharmacist first at Lincoln General Hospital Pharmacy and Baton Rouge General Hospital Pharmacy before opening the well-known institution that was Waltz & Brazell Pharmacy for years.
“My first goal coming out of school was to take care of folks, no matter where I was,” Waltz said. “I wanted to take care of the folks that wanted to come here and do that in the best way that I could.”
And take care of folks, he did, from the moment his pharmacy first opened on May 1, 1972, all the way through today’s closing time. Waltz added that his favorite part was enjoying the friendships with his customers along the way.
Retired Lincoln/Union Parish Judge and Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Joe Bleich was one of those friends. Carrying a box of a dozen donuts for an anticipated visit, Bleich had come Tuesday morning to visit Waltz before finding out that Wednesday would be the last day of business for the pharmacy.
“Institutions (like Waltz’s Pharmacy) perform so much public service, and we hate to see them close or fade away,” Bleich said. “What he has done, he and his family and his staff, will be forever remembered. Although Phil had a profession, he never looked at it as work. He truly loved serving and assisting everyone who crossed his threshold. To that extent, he was indeed the icon of being a public servant.”
Prior to housing Waltz Pharmacy, 200 North Trenton St. served as the home for Crosby’s Pharmacy and then Beard’s Pharmacy, from whom Waltz purchased the business in 1972. And in the late 80’s, Waltz partnered with Albert Brazzel for nearly a decade and operated as Waltz & Brazzel Pharmacy, Inc., which is still reflected on the sign hanging above the building.
“Waltz Pharmacy has been a fixture in Downtown Ruston for generations,” City of Ruston Main Street Director and Community Coordinator Amy Stegall said. “I still remember dropping by for a bottle of Coke before heading to my job at Grigsby’s Jewelers during college.
“It’s rare to find a place that truly feels like stepping back in time, but Waltz was one of those special spots. We are deeply grateful for the many years they’ve been part of the heart of Downtown Ruston, and we wish them all the best in their well-earned retirement.”
April Brazzel Winstead, Albert’s daughter, said she practically grew up in the pharmacy with her father and the Waltz family. In fact, Winstead had helped with billing from the time she was in high school up until last year.
“My dad actually had a pharmacy across the street from Waltz’s Pharmacy for years,” Winstead said. “When some of the big chains started coming to Ruston, they decided to combine and decrease overhead costs, because the chains were starting to really get those ‘Mom & Pop’ stores.”
Winstead added that she has a lot of memories from decades in the pharmacy and wishes Waltz the best in retirement.
“I raised my babies in that pharmacy — they would go to work with me,” Winstead said. “He’s always treated me like family, and I think of them as family. I know it’s bittersweet for him, but I really hope that he enjoys some time. He and his wife Donna have helped so many people in so many ways that the public will never know — whether it was monetarily or getting up in the middle of the night and going to the pharmacy to fill a prescription. I can’t even name it all.
“I wish them all the best, and I just can’t say enough about what he’s done.”
After the pharmacy closes today, Waltz said that he’ll still be cleaning out the store through the end of the calendar year. Since Waltz will still have the lease on the building for another year, he said he is not sure what will come after he has finished cleaning the store out.
“(Cleaning) is going to take me about four months, at least,” Waltz said. “Once I lock that door, I’ll have some paperwork I’ll need to shred, and there is some I’ll have to keep for 10 years. I’ll be 87 years old when I get through all of this paperwork. I’ll take the shelving down and move everything out, but I’ve got a year to get it empty. But I’m hoping to do it in four or five months.”
Customers with current prescriptions at Waltz’s Pharmacy will now have their scripts sent to Walgreens on 108 West California Ave. in Ruston. Once in Walgreens’ system, customers can call to have their scripts transferred to any pharmacy of their choosing.
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The sun had set in the last year on one of Ruston’s more popular restaurants as the Sundown Tavern has been closed for roughly six months.
However, the sun is coming back up.
Ruston native Heath Hightower and his family have bought the building and the name and will reopen it this summer.
“The name will stay the same,” said Hightower. “In fact we had to take down the old sign because it was falling apart. We have put a new one up, and we have done everything we can to make the new sign look exactly like the old sign. We are putting a huge emphasis on keeping everything the same.
“When we do open and people walk in the door, we expect them to say, ‘Why did this take so long. It doesn’t look any different. It just smells better.'”
Name is the same. Sign will look the same. What about the menu?
“We are absolutely staying the same,” said Hightower. “We are trying to let people know that when we first open it will be the same menu but we will shrink it. We are going to open slow. My message to the community is if your favorite isn’t on the menu that doesn’t mean that we won’t eventually have it. But we have to prove that we can serve a turkey sandwich before we try to serve you loaded chicken nachos.
“I would rather apologize because your favorite dish hasn’t made the menu yet then apologize because it took two and a half hours to feed you.”
So what was the driving factor in Hightower’s decision to buy the building and reopen Sundown Tavern?
“I’m 49 and anybody who is in our age bracket sat in Sundown at some point in their life and said,’I wish I owned this place.’ I had the opportunity to do it,” said Hightower.
“I think it’s going to be a fun experience. I have always had a dream of getting into a restaurant-type business … Then throw in the fact that I get to do it with what I consider an iconic establishment in the city that I’m from, I felt like I fit the suit well. It felt like a natural fit.
“Then when I approached my wife with the crazy idea, she said she has a connection to the place even though she isn’t from Ruston. That was the final vote that I needed.”
Hightower said the timeline to reopen is in July.
“That is the goal, but there is a chance it could bleed into August,” said Hightower. “I’ve run into some challenges with the building … just some repair work. I hope I’m open by the end of July, but I will for sure be open in August at the latest.”
Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and Jimmy Swaggart
By Wesley Harris
Imagine if Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and Jimmy Swaggart had grown up in Ruston, Louisiana. Would the community be any different than it is today?
It could have happened had the Lewis family made different decisions.
The Lewis family became a vital part of Ruston from the very beginning of the railroad town. They operated Ruston’s first store. The Lewises married into the Kidds, another important family in Ruston’s early days. The stores operated by the Lewis family for over a century anchored the downtown area that saw its fortunes rise and fall with the times.
Before there was a Ruston, before there was a railroad across north Louisiana to spawn a new town, the Lewis family was living in Alabama under the family patriarch Jeptha Lewis. When Jeptha and quite a number of other family members died in the late 1840s, much of the remaining family moved west.
Led by several of Jeptha’s sons, the family crossed the Mississippi River at or near Natchez into Louisiana. According to family lore, one of the sons was always tardy when it was time to break camp and move on. Somewhere in the neighborhood of Ferriday, the son was nowhere to be seen and tired of always waiting on him, the family moved on without him. The story the family tells is that the son left behind was the ancestor of Jerry Lee, Mickey, and Jimmie.
The actual story may not be as colorful as the family legend. Seeking places to open up businesses, the large family moved into north central Louisiana but thought it best to split up and operate businesses in separate towns for the best financial outcomes. Andrew Jackson Lewis took his family to Vernon, then the seat for Jackson Parish. George Washington Lewis took his brood to Monroe. The two branches operated mercantile establishments through the 1850s and 60s through the conclusion of the Civil War.
Vernon suffered greater economic woes during the Civil War and the subsequent period of reconstruction, so Andrew Jackson Lewis moved from Vernon to Trenton, now West Monroe. With the entire family back together, they worked in merchandising until 1883 when the railroad across north Louisiana was finally extended west from Monroe to Shreveport and plans were made for the development of a town called Ruston.
Kathy McBride Cox, great granddaughter of Andrew Jackson Lewis, says no levee existed in Trenton at the time and the Lewis store and home flooded twice by the Ouachita River. “My great grandfather had had enough and heard about the new train track going to Ruston. He though there would be a good opportunity there.”
Andrew Jackson and George Washington and other family members moved to the new town and started the first store with a barrel of whiskey and a box of cigars and married into the Kidd family. At one point, a store named Lewis & Kidd was the go-to place for just about anything in downtown Ruston.
By the time of the move, George Washington and his wife’s grown children and grandchildren had migrated out of Monroe to Richland Parish.
Their son Leroy Milton Lewis and children lived a hardscrabble life farming in Richland and the adult kids decided to try their luck in Ferriday in Concordia Parish. Elmo had a son named Jerry Lee, daughter Ada had son Mickey with her husband Arthur Gilley and Irene married Willie Swaggart and bore a son named Willie Leon or just “Son.” Son and his wife had James Swaggart, nicknamed Jimmy.
The three cousins got their “musical gene” from their grandfather, according to Cox. “[He] could pick up any instrument whether stringed, a horn, harmonica—and after playing with it a bit—could play it. Jerry Lee got that gene because what else could explain the way he played a piano! I believe Mickey and Jimmy got some of that gene, too.”
The Ruston Lewises actively embraced public life, engaging in cultural pursuits, politics, public service, and growing their mercantile enterprise. If anyone found success in Ruston, it was the Lewises.
“Ruston was good to the Lewises and they in turn were good to Ruston,” Cox says.
While Lewises and Ruston prospered—the huge family home still stands on the dead end of East Alabama Avenue—the Lewis descendants in Ferriday found life hard. In his book “Unconquered” on the three cousins, J. D. Davis writes, “Ferriday was known for hardened men and disappointed women, and as a borough for the downtrodden poor consigned to battle the relentless forces conspiring to keep them that way. Ferriday was where God-fearing people prayed for a better life without expecting to find one; where there was punishing labor or no work at all; where plowed fields veered between parched and flooded, and brutal summer heat was interspersed with sudden, volent squalls. It was where men found refuge in liquor and fast women, if only momentarily.”
So, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mickey Gilley, and Jimmy Swaggart grew up together in Concordia Parish, poor country cousins to the prosperous Ruston Lewises. But they learned to play the piano and sing and kick up their heels at a moment’s notice. And made their own success from their own talents.
Jerry Lee’s soaring rock ‘n’ roll career faltered after he married a 13 year-old cousin. But he rebounded and became a star. Mickey Gilley chose country music and recorded 17 number one hits, reaching the pinnacle of his career when the movie “Urban Cowboy” was patterned after his huge Pasadena, Texas bar. Jimmy Swaggart became the best known televangelist who preached and prayed and played the piano every Sunday before millions until an admission of sinful behavior brought down his ministry.
One can only wonder what mid-century Ruston would have been like had those three men moved here with the rest of the family. Would they have changed Ruston? Or would Ruston have changed them?
Lewis Family TreeThe W.A.J. Lewis house at 210 East Alabama in Ruston.Interior of the Lewis store in Ruston about 1900
College Baseball Hall of Fame Coach and Grambling State Legend Wilbert Ellis was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Saturday night.
Ellis became only the second honoree of the LSHOF’s Sports Ambassador Award, joining national broadcaster and Shreveport native Tim Brando, who was inducted in 2020.
And judging from the small army of supporters that showed up at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum for the induction ceremony, ambassador might be an understatement for Ellis.
On Saturday, Ellis became both Louisiana sports royalty and minister while accepting his honor during an on-stage interview with broadcaster Lyn Rollins.
The night began a Walk of Legends featuring previous LSHOF inductees, including another Ruston native, Bert Jones, before being followed with the new inductees walking across the stage, with Ellis receiving the first standing ovation of the night before the induction interviews ever began.
“There have been other inductees over the years that have had big crowds of followers like Coach Ellis did, and who got long ovations,” said Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame chair Doug Ireland. “But the thing that struck me was Coach Ellis received the first ever standing ovation during the Walk of Legends to start the show.”
After that, each new inductee in attendance took to the stage for live interviews with one of two well-known broadcasters, Lyn Rollins, or Victor Howell.
When it finally because his turn in the induction lineup, following a short video featuring Ellis’ history with comments by lifelong friend James Davison, former GSU and Major League Baseball standout Gary Eave, current Grambling State baseball coach Davin Pierre and his pastor, Maurice White of Zion Traveler Baptist in Ruston, Ellis was called to the stage.
What followed was a near minute-long standing ovation.
Rollins began his interview talking with Ellis about the impact of youth baseball camps that are part of the reason he was honored with the LSHOF Ambassador Award.
“I always wanted to give back,” Ellis said as he began the interview. “I always wanted to make a difference. I always wanted to teach fundamental baseball skills, but I also wanted those teachings to go into life, and to motivate young people to build the right roots and be able to make a difference in their lives.
“That was my prayer. God gave me that prayer. I’ve been all over the country doing it. I had some of the greatest people in the world supporting me, starting with my mother and father, Mattie, and Houston Ellis. There are so many people in my community (that helped him). Then when I got to Grambling State University, I met some of the finest people in the world.
Ellis then rattled off a Who’s Who list of Grambling State royalty — R.W.E. Jones, Eddie G. Robinson, and Fred Hobdy.
“I could go on and on,” Ellis continued. “And I met so many people in my community — people that cared about young people and wanted to give people chances and talk about rights and wrongs. That motivated me. … They made me want to be the best and I worked hard at that. …. I could call out a lot of names tonight, but I don’t want to get into any trouble, either, by forgetting someone.”
Ellis then proved how much support he has had over the years, saying that the small army of supporters appearing to be at 150 if not 200 had made him shed tears with their show of love.
He then asked that small army to stand, receiving another standing ovation in the process.
“That right there could be my speech tonight,” Ellis said. “I know that you didn’t have to come, but you showed that somewhere down the line we’ve touched lives together. I love all of you and wish I could call out all your names. But let’s move on.”
As his speech again turned to his desire of teaching life skills to youth, Ellis told the crowd he did not want to take it too far, but feels it is an important subject and that the key is ending the obvious divide our nation is currently undergoing.
“We all need to be involved (in helping youth in America),” Ellis said. “We’re in serious trouble. And it’s not serious about one person, it’s serious about the whole United States of America. We’re going to have to come together. I know I didn’t come to preach, but we’re going to have to come together and do some things to make a difference in the lives of our young people.
“You know, they want to be helped, and it’s our duty and responsibility to help them.”
And as Ellis’ time on stage ended, Rollins asked one favor — that Ellis keep preaching.
“Well thank you for that, but I think that everybody here tonight has had some responsibility with young people, even in your own home with your own children. I know all of you have done that in the community,” Ellis said.
“Don’t turn your head (away from youth) — they want to be helped. They want to be nourished. They need some direction. And don’t be afraid to sit down and talk with them about direction. Tell them about right and wrong, going to church and doing great things in life so that when you see them again, they’re doing great things. They can be lawyers. They can be doctors. But we must work with them in such a way to help make our communities and nation a better place.”
Anyone who has lived in Ruston for more than 20 years probably knows what I’m talking about.
Nostalgia at its best. A cultural experience to say the least.
Located on the south side of Ruston, the Blue Light Cafe was once the hot spot for soul food in our parish. A mecca of mouth-watering, home-cooked, Southern delicacies.
Although it has been closed now for some 15-odd years (best to my memory), the home that housed the Blue Light Cafe still remains. Sometimes I will drive by just for old time’s sake.
That old blue wooden house with the splintered paint coming off the outside walls. Those brick steps leading up onto the front porch. And the old screen door banging closed on its hinges.
Man, I miss that place.
The food was worth way more than you paid for it. And the menu was a Who’s Who – or in this case a What’s What – of the best the south has to offer in soul food cooked to perfection.
Fried pork chops. That was my go to. The pork chop was so big that it arrived at your table on its own plate. Your side items had to come out on plate No. 2.
Baked chicken? Flavored to perfection. Falling off the bone. Baked in a way that I sure have never been able to master or even come close.
And the sides. Oh, the sides.
Candied yams. Turnip greens. Mashed potatoes and gravy. Rice and gravy. And I’m sure there were more.
And how about that hot water cornbread.
You want your cornbread? You dang right I do.
And last, but certainly not least, banana pudding on Fridays!
And to wash it down how about some sweet tea or maybe a coca cola brought to you in a can with a glass of ice?
As good as the food was — and trust me for those of you who never experienced it, it was good — the experience and the atmosphere was even better.
You would park across the street in the grass “parking lot” or along the side of the road.
You walked up those brick steps onto the front porch and through the screen door which would bang behind you on those hinges. And as you entered you were greeted by some of the friendliest people that Ruston had to offer. And we all know Ruston does friendly about as well as any place in the world.
You sat on the old bar stools at the formica countertops, grabbed one of the white pads of paper and a pencil and filled out your order by hand. Don’t forget to write your table number on your order. Then you headed to your table.
Remember those old tables, each one numbered with black stickers? And those old bench-like seats covered with the plastic-like upholstery … that were sometimes cracked, sometimes duct taped. As my friend Jim Oakes articulated, those would be “antique” pieces if you could find them these days.
Back before the Blue Light Cafe closed, I would always recommend it as a must do when TV crews and TV talent would ask for suggestions when they rode into Ruston to televise a Louisiana Tech sporting event.
I remember telling Lee Corso and Co. that they wouldn’t be disappointed in the food or the experience. And the next day prior to kickoff, guess what they couldn’t quit talking about? You guessed it, the food and the friendliness at the Blue Light Cafe.
Ruston was fortunate enough to have a couple of those old soul food establishments back then. Remember Sara’s Kitchen over by Ruston High School? And there was the Russell B’s about a block from the Blue Light Cafe.
They were melting pot-type places where the young and the old and folks from all demographics would meet and enjoy some of the best soul food the South had to offer.
Following a season that saw a third-straight appearance in the LHSAA Non-Select, Division I State Championship Game, Ruston High had nine Bearcats named to the Louisiana Football Coaches’ Association All-State Team.
The honorees were voted in by district representatives.
Seniors Zheric Hill (linebacker), Sam Nations (offensive line) and Aidan Anding (cornerback and returner) were all named to the first team, while seniors Rakeem Potts (defensive line), Jordan Hayes (running back) and Fabian Stringfellow (flex) along with sophomore Ahmad Hudson (wide receiver/tight end) were named to the second team.
Seniors Jack Elliott (kicker) and Joran Parker (wide receiver) were both named honorable mention.
“It’s always great to see that coaches around the state acknowledge our football team and player success by voting for our players to be on the LFCA’s All State team,” Ruston High head coach Jerrod Baugh said. “We are very proud for our players that they have recognized, and they are very deserving.”
The complete list is included in an attachment below.
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I was recently out early wrapping up a workout as the sun was coming up. My thoughts were on a topic to write about for this week’s article. I typically have someone or some group in mind when I write an article. I reflected on all the people that have commented on reading my articles over the past year as well as others that may have access to the article. I know that many are going through difficult times while others are in a season of success.
With all of you in mind, I have two Christmas wishes for you.
First, I sincerely hope and pray for those of you going through hard times to know and experience the peace and comfort of Jesus as you navigate difficult circumstances. Life can be hard, uncertain, and disappointing at times. I can speak from experience that this Jesus that we celebrate on December 25th can be:
Provider: At an early age, I prayed for yards to mow, leaves to rake, and summer jobs to help meet financial needs. As an adult, I have been blessed with work opportunities that continue to meet our needs and allow us to share with others.
Guide: Growing up in a single parent’s home where my mom was committed to doing all she could to meet basic needs, I was pretty much on my own seeking wisdom on things that were important to me. I developed a solid dependence on God through prayer for guidance and direction. That dependence has never diminished over the years.
Encourager: While it would have been easy to be discouraged growing up, God provided me a drive to press on regardless of the challenge. I found encouragement in reading what He had done and was doing through others. He provided hope when others would have seen hopeless. That source of encouragement continues today.
Comforter: I routinely turned to God in prayer when there was no one to talk to on various matters. When Pam, my wife, was diagnosed with cancer not long after we were married, it was natural for me to continue turning to God for comfort, wisdom, and hope in uncertain times. I’ve never had to go searching as God was always there.
Secondly, for those of you currently experiencing good times and finding life to be full of joy and success, I sincerely pray that you would not become so comfortable that you miss the opportunity to experience the same walk with Jesus. I can share from experience that this Jesus that we celebrate on December 25th can provide:
Sensitivity/Awareness: Whether it was success on an athletic team or in a business organization, there were always opportunities with teammates and coworkers. People’s lives are messy! God has continually opened my eyes to these needs and shown me the importance of creating a culture based on valuing people beyond reaching tangible goals.
Wisdom: Success can be short-lived and turn quickly if not handled appropriately. I have prayed for wisdom continually over the years whether times were favorable or challenging. God has provided direction that has been so valuable!
Perspective: Recognizing the relative importance of issues in the moment is not a natural ability for many of us. God has provided insight into helping me in this area so many times. While many of us need perspective in challenging times, I have needed it in successful times as well. The recognition of the key drivers for success and/or significance is essential to getting back on track when circumstances change.
This Jesus that we celebrate on December 25th is more than just a baby born in a manger. He is both the hope for eternity and answer for what is needed today! My wish is that you will experience both this Christmas season!
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A Ruston man was arrested last week after he was found unconscious behind the wheel of a vehicle behind someone’s house in a Lincoln Parish subdivision.
Jarvis D. Silmon, Jr, 37., was arrested on several outstanding warrants when investigating deputies learned he was wanted.
At about 2 a.m. Dec. 18, Lincoln Parish deputies were sent to a Creekside Drive residence in the Creek’s Edge subdivision near Ruston. They found Silmon asleep or passed out in the driver’s seat and his juvenile daughter asleep in the passenger seat.
Silmon appeared to be intoxicated, according to a deputy’s report. When the deputy spoke to Silmon, he was unable to stand on his own, was sweating heavily, and was unable to speak coherently. He told a deputy he had smoked cocaine and drank alcohol prior to driving. He requested to go to the Northern Louisiana Medical Center.
During the investigation, it was learned that Silmon was wanted on five warrants for failure to appear in Ruston City Count on various traffic charges.
After Silmon was discharged from the hospital, he was arrested and transported to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center and booked. His bail was set at $10,000. The daughter was picked up by her grandmother.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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